Plan to draft in-house Navi Mumbai development plan to be tabled again

NAVI MUMBAI: The town planning department will propose to draft the city’s development plan (DP) again, using civic resources in the upcoming NMMC’s general body meeting. The town planning department will propose to draft the plan using in-house resources instead of outsourcing the process.

The administration is seeking the house’s approval for the second time to work out the DP. “Since we have the required expertise such as draftsman, engineers, and a base plan prepared by Cidco, we are confident of getting the work done. There is no need to to rope in an outside agency when the majority ground work has already been done by our officials,” said civic chief, Dr N Ramaswami.

Aware that a similar proposal was put forth during former NMMC commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe’s tenure had been set aside, the department has decided to present the positive aspects of doing the project in house this time.

“An estimated two crore rupees will have to be spent if the administration outsources the work. Besides outsourcing is also compromising the secrecy of the data pertaining to reservations in an area,” said an senior official from town planning .

The department is positive of the house giving its approval and has already commenced working on the existing land use (ELUs). With help of satellite images and base maps in the possession of the department, the ELUs are being defined.

“In the absence of DP, many of the prime plots of the city which are not reserved have already been sold by Cidco. So keeping the best interests of the city, the house should be giving its approval,” said Sena corporator Kishor Patkar.

Officials too acknowledged the need to have a DP. “Once the reservation against plots are made, it will prevent Cidco from levying commercial rates for transferring the plots to NMMC,” added the official.